Hello everyone! Enjoy!
Chapter 10: A Wedding
Puck went to his room and started packing his suitcase. There was no way he was going to stay and watch Rachel get married to some asshole prince all because she didn't believe he could run the country. After the night they had it was like a slap in the face and if he knew this would happen he would've turned her down. He thought there was a chance she would finally realize she wanted to marry him but that wasn't going to happen and he had to accept it.
Maria and Sara walked in as he was packing and Sara looked at him. "What's going on?"
"I'm going home. I'm done here."
"What happened, I thought you and Rachel worked everything out?" Maria asked.
"I thought so too." He sighed. "We kind of…were together last night."
Sara rolled her eyes. "I'm not five, just say you had sex."
"Sara," Maria reprimanded before looking back at Puck. "Noah how could you be so stupid? You had to have known doing that would complicate things between you two."
"I just thought that she was finally telling me that she wanted to be with me. But I was wrong. She's marrying that prince so I'm going home. I can't take being here much longer."
"But that doesn't make sense," Sara said. "She seemed like she was still really in love with you."
Puck shook his head. "I don't care anymore. I'm going to find Daniel and have him get someone to take me home."
"You're just going to give her up, just like that?"
He sighed and looked at his sister. "I've been fighting for Rachel since I was sixteen. I love her and I probably always will but I can't keep doing this to myself. If she wants me it's time that she fights for me for a change."
Without another word, Puck walked out of the room to find Daniel and Sara followed behind him but soon stopped. She didn't want to keep pressing Puck when he was so upset so she decided to go to the source of his pain.
She found Rachel preparing invitations to be sent out and stared at her. "How could you do this to Puck?"
Rachel looked at her. "Sara I am sorry but you do not understand the situation."
"I understand it perfectly. You're messing with my brother's feelings and I'm not okay with it."
"It is not that simple. I do love Noah but I need my country to take me seriously as a ruler and they will not do that if I choose to be with a commoner."
Sara glared at her. "Puck's a commoner to you now? You're unbelievable. I'm glad Puck's deciding to go home. He deserves better."
As she walked away, Rachel threw the pen down and put her head in her hands. When she lifted her head back up, she looked at herself in one of the mirrors. What has happened to her? What happened to that girl Puck fell in love with? She didn't know how she had become this weak person who couldn't stand up for what she wanted.
As she sat there, Hiram walked in. "Rachel your mother is looking for you." When he noticed the look on her face, he frowned. "Sweetheart what's wrong?"
"Everything," she replied as he sat down across from her. "When I sent Noah home years ago, I really did not want to. More than anything I wanted him to stay with me but I did not want him to give up what he had at home. I thought I was doing what was best for him. Now I am seeing how it was an enormous mistake."
The king looked at his daughter. "Do you want to marry Collin? Be honest."
"I do not know. I am not in love with him but I need someone reliable to help me run the country and that is what is most important."
"That's not what you used to think. You used to sit around dreaming of finding love and happiness with your future king. You never wanted an arranged marriage like your mother and I had and now you agree with it?" When Rachel couldn't find a response, he sighed. "Sweetheart all your mother and I have wanted is for you to be happy. That's why we brought Noah out here in the first place. We thought we could finally see a true smile on your face again if he was back. But it is up to you to want it. If you do not, marry Collin. But if you do, fight for Noah."
He kissed her on her forehead before getting up and leaving the room. Rachel sighed to herself. She has never been so confused in her life. She has never had to fight for anything and suddenly she was faced with the option of fighting for Puck. It was all overwhelming and she wasn't sure if she could handle it.
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Later on that day, Puck sat in the common room thinking about everything that's happened. Daniel agreed to have one of the private planes take him home the next day. He felt relieved but he also felt sad that it came to this.
While he sat there, Ryder walked in. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Arabella's going to be here any minute and I need some last minute prep."
"Dude you'll be fine. Just be yourself and you'll be fine. Hopefully you'll have better luck than me."
"What do you mean?"
"Rachel's marrying that asshole prince so I'm going home tomorrow. Daniel already set everything up."
"Are you sure you want to do this? You never know, she might change her mind or something."
He shook his head. "Ryder we slept together last night. If that didn't change her mind nothing else will."
Ryder raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. I'm really sorry Puck."
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I was the idiot for letting it happen, thinking it would change her mind. I just want to get out of here so I can forget this trip even happened."
"Well just don't forget about me. You've been a pretty good friend."
Puck smiled and nodded. "Thanks you too."
Arabella walked in and smiled. "Good afternoon boys."
"Hey princess," Puck said. "Maybe I should leave you two alone."
"No," Ryder quickly said. When they looked at him, he coughed. "Um, I mean there's no need. Anything I can say in front of the princess I can say in front of you too."
Puck knew that was Ryder's way of begging him not to leave so there would be less of a chance of him screwing this up so he nodded. "Okay."
Arabella turned to Ryder. "So what did you need to talk to me about?"
"I, uh, I…" he stumbled. He looked at Puck who nodded and took a deep breath. "I think you're a really great person and I know I may not be worthy of you but I really like you and I was wondering if you would maybe have dinner with me sometime."
"I would love to."
He turned to Puck. "See Puck I told you this was a bad idea. I knew she wouldn't…" He looked back at Arabella. "Wait, what did you say?"
She giggled. "I said I would love to have dinner with you."
"Seriously? You're not messing with me or anything?"
"Ryder as a princess it is inappropriate to be the one initiating any romantic involvement so I have been waiting for you to ask."
"Really? Wow, I guess I should've asked sooner then."
"No kidding," Puck smirked. "My work is done here."
Arabella looked at him confused. "Work?"
"I'll explain later," Ryder said before looking at Puck. "Thanks for your help."
"No problem. Someone deserves a happy ending."
He walked away as Ryder and Arabella began talking about making arrangements to have dinner. Puck was happy that he could help Ryder but he wished he was able to save his own relationship with Rachel. He knew that he tried his hardest to make them work but at the end of the day, it wasn't up to him. It was up to Rachel and she made her decision.
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The next day, Rachel prepared for her wedding in her room. The last time she was in this position she was being forced into marriage. This time around she is willingly going into it. It was her choice so why did she feel so empty?
As she prepared, there was a knock on the door. "You may enter."
Sara walked in. "Your mom asked me to see if you were ready yet."
"Almost," she replied before looking at her and smiling slightly. "You look lovely. Thank you for coming."
"Don't thank me, it wasn't my choice. My mom said sometimes we have to show our support even if we don't agree with the decision. Don't think for one second I'm not still mad at you. Puck is about to be on his way home with a broken heart and it's because of you."
"He's going home? Now?"
"Yeah Daniel arranged it. Now you can't hurt him anymore."
As she walked out, Rachel sat there and looked in the mirror. This wasn't what she wanted. She never wanted to hurt Puck and she never wanted anyone to be upset with her. She couldn't let any of this happen. She couldn't let Puck leave.
She got up and left the room. As she walked, she overheard Collin speaking with one of the servants. "Do not ruin my clothing. When I marry the princess and become king I will have your heads for it. There is about to be a new ruler which means new leadership so get used to it."
Rachel quickly walked away to make sure no one knew she was listening. This isn't the person she should have helping her rule the country. She should've figured that out from the moment Collin showed her his true colors but she was too worried about satisfying everyone else. Now she had to make things right.
Meanwhile, Puck brought his bags to the plane. He had already said goodbye to Daniel since he had to help prepare for the wedding. Luckily Ryder managed to get out of helping out and went to drive him to the plane.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ryder asked as he got one of Puck's suitcases out of the backseat. "Once you go there's no turning back."
"I know and I'm okay with it. If I'm ever going to finally get over Rachel I have to. I can't stay and watch her marry someone else."
"I understand."
As he prepared to get on the plane, another black car quickly drove up to them. Puck looked and saw Rachel rushing to get out of the car.
"Noah wait!" she said as she got out and ran over to him.
"Rachel no offense but I was avoiding saying goodbye to you for a reason. I have nothing more to say so I'm leaving."
"Please do not go. I am so sorry for all the pain I have caused you throughout your visit. You have every right to be upset with me."
"I already knew that but thanks." He picked up his suitcase and started walking to the plane. "Now don't you have a wedding to get to?"
"No I do not. I am not marrying Collin."
He looked at her. "What?"
"He is not fit to run this country. He is not the person I should be with and I am a fool for not realizing it sooner."
As much as Puck wanted to believe that she finally wanted him, he couldn't let himself get excited when he knew there was a huge chance she would just go looking for another prince. "Well I'm glad you realized it. Good luck finding your next prince."
He turned and started to walk towards the plane but froze when he heard her singing.
Well, open up your mind and see like me,
Open up your plans and damn you're free.
Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours.
So please don't, please don't, please don't...
There's no need to complicate.
'Cause our time is short.
This oh, this oh, this is our fate.
I'm yours.
He looked at her. "That's…"
"Our song," she finished. "It is the song you sang to me when you were telling me that you wanted to be with me. And now I'm singing it to you to tell you that I love you and I want to be with you. I should have realized it before and I am sorry it took so long but since you are not on the plane yet, it is not too late."
Puck walked over to her. "You actually remember the song."
"How could I? It was what made me feel connected to you after I sent you home which was another mistake. I know I keep making mistakes and I am sorry but I am ready to make everything right."
He cupped her cheek in his hands. "Please tell me you're serious this time. You won't change your mind or think you're making a huge mistake."
"The only other mistake I could make is letting you get on that plane and that is not happening. I love you and I want you here. Please do not leave."
A moment passed and Rachel was getting nervous when Puck wouldn't respond. Finally, he smiled. "Say it again."
"Say what?"
"That you love me."
She smiled. "I love you. And I will say it forever if you want me to."
"You don't need to say anything else," he said before leaning in and kissing her. When they pulled away, he smirked. "You know, this is the second wedding I've messed up in some way. I think karma is going to catch up to us when it's time for our wedding."
She laughed. "I hope not. It will be a wedding that is well overdue."
As they kissed again, Ryder smiled and motioned to the pilot that they wouldn't need him anymore. He turned back to the couple and cleared his throat. "I'm glad that you two worked everything out but I think we should go back and let everyone know that this wedding won't be happening."
Puck and Rachel looked at each other before nodding and getting into one of the cars. They weren't sure what was going to happen when they made the announcement but this time Puck knew Rachel was serious. There was no chance of her backing out and once they got rid of Collin, nothing would be in their way.
I will update Toxic soon, I'm just trying to get some stories finished up including this one which is almost done. Let me know your thoughts! Bye for now :)